A textured autumn table runner with raised pumpkins, leafy vines, tiny flowers, and a romantic cream lace border
This elegant fall table runner is inspired by the photographed design: a long cream lace base decorated with five large sage-blue crochet pumpkins, olive-green leaves and curls, small cream flowers, and warm brown stems. The result feels rustic, soft, and sophisticated enough for an autumn dining table, Thanksgiving display, farmhouse kitchen, or seasonal centerpiece.
Because this tutorial is reconstructed from a finished photo rather than copied from an original published pattern, the stitch counts below are a practical photo-inspired version designed to reproduce the same overall look. You may need to adjust a few stitches depending on yarn thickness, hook size, and your personal tension.
Finished Size
Approximate finished dimensions after blocking:
• Length: 115-130 cm / 45-51 in
• Width: 34-40 cm / 13.5-16 in
• Each large pumpkin: about 24-27 cm / 9.5-10.5 in wide
• Recommended table size: 4-6 seat rectangular dining table
Skill Level
Intermediate. The project combines work in the round, textured ribbing, shaping, lace mesh, applique motifs, surface assembly, and blocking.
Materials
| Material | Suggested Amount / Use |
| Cream / ivory cotton yarn | 300-400 g, DK or light worsted; for the lace base, edging, and flowers |
| Sage blue / dusty teal yarn | 250-350 g, medium cotton or cotton blend; for the pumpkins |
| Olive green yarn | 100-150 g; for leaves and curly tendrils |
| Warm brown yarn | 50-75 g; for stems |
| Mustard or gold yarn | small amount; for flower centers |
| Crochet hook | 3.5-4.0 mm for DK yarn, or size needed for firm fabric |
| Tapestry needle | for sewing motifs and weaving ends |
| Stitch markers | 6-10 |
| Scissors | 1 pair |
| Blocking mats and rustproof pins | recommended for the lace base |
| Optional fabric stiffener | very light use only if you want crisp leaves and lace |
Stitch Abbreviations
• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• inc = 2 stitches in one stitch
• dec = decrease
• sp = space
• rep = repeat
• MR = magic ring
Construction Overview
The runner is built in separate components and then assembled. First make five large ribbed pumpkins. Next crochet the cream lace foundation as a chain of overlapping oval / scalloped medallions. Then make stems, leaves, tendrils, and small flowers. Finally arrange and sew all motifs onto the blocked base.
Part 1 – Large Ribbed Pumpkin Motif (Make 5)
The photographed pumpkins have deep vertical ribs. A reliable way to reproduce this is to crochet a flat circle with raised ridges created by alternating normal rounds with back-loop or front-post texture.
1. Round 1: With sage blue, make an MR. Ch 2, work 12 dc into the ring. Join with sl st. (12)
2. Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch around. Join. (24)
3. Round 3: Ch 2, *1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (36)
4. Round 4: Work in BLO: ch 2, *2 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (48)
5. Round 5: Work normally: ch 2, *3 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (60)
6. Round 6: BLO: ch 2, *4 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (72)
7. Round 7: Work normally: ch 2, *5 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (84)
8. Round 8: BLO: ch 2, *6 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (96)
9. Round 9: Work normally: ch 2, *7 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (108)
10. Round 10: BLO: ch 2, *8 dc, 2 dc in next stitch* around. Join. (120)
To emphasize the pumpkin shape, use a long strand of matching yarn and a tapestry needle. Bring the yarn from the center to the outside edge, wrap it across the front, return through the center, and pull gently. Repeat 6-8 times around the circle to create pronounced pumpkin segments. Do not pull so tightly that the motif cups.
Optional Raised Rib Technique
For even stronger ridges, surface crochet a line of slip stitches from the center to the outer edge along every second increase line. Keep the slip stitches loose so the pumpkin remains flat.
Part 2 – Brown Pumpkin Stems (Make 5)
1. Ch 8.
2. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Ch 1, turn. (7)
3. Rows 2-6: Sc BLO across. Ch 1, turn.
4. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail.
5. Fold the rectangle lengthwise and stitch the long edges together to create a chunky stem.
Part 3 – Olive Leaves (Make 20-25)
Make a mixture of medium and large leaves so the layout feels natural.
6. Ch 13.
7. Working down one side of the chain: sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, 3 tr, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc.
8. Work 3 sc in the last chain to turn the tip.
9. Work back along the opposite side in reverse: sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, 3 tr, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc.
10. Join with sl st.
11. For a raised center vein, surface slip stitch from the base to the tip.
12. For more texture, work one final round of sc around the outer edge, placing 3 sc at the tip.
Part 4 – Curly Tendrils (Make 8-12)
13. Ch 22-30.
14. Work 2 sc in each chain across. The strip will curl automatically.
15. Fasten off and shape the curl with your fingers.
Part 5 – Small Cream Flowers (Make 8-10)
These small five-petal flowers soften the joins between the pumpkins and leaves.
16. With mustard, make an MR and work 10 sc into the ring. Join.
17. Change to cream.
18. Petal: *sl st in next stitch, ch 2, 3 dc in same stitch, ch 2, sl st in next stitch.*
19. Repeat until you have 5 petals.
20. Fasten off. Add a tiny extra round or French-knot-style center if desired.
Part 6 – Cream Lace Runner Base
The base in the image is a continuous cream lace strip made from overlapping round-to-oval medallions. The simplest reconstruction is to make six large lace medallions and join them in a vertical line, then add a continuous scalloped border.
Large Lace Medallion (Make 6)
21. Round 1: MR, ch 3, 15 dc into ring. Join. (16)
22. Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each stitch around. Join. (32)
23. Round 3: *Ch 3, skip 1 stitch, sc in next stitch* around. Join. This forms 16 chain spaces.
24. Round 4: In each ch-3 space work (sc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, sc).
25. Round 5: Sl st to the center of the first shell, *ch 6, sc in center of next shell* around.
26. Round 6: In each ch-6 space work 7 dc. Sc between shells.
27. Round 7: *Ch 5, sc in next shell center* around.
Block each medallion to about 28-30 cm / 11-12 in across. Join the medallions in a straight line with a slight overlap of approximately 6-8 cm / 2.5-3 in. Use mattress stitch or slip-stitch joins on the back so the joins stay discreet.
Continuous Scalloped Border
28. Join cream yarn anywhere along the outside edge.
29. Round 1: Work sc evenly around the entire assembled runner, placing extra stitches around curves so the fabric lies flat.
30. Round 2: *Ch 5, skip approximately 3 stitches, sc in next stitch* around.
31. Round 3: In each ch-5 space work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc).
32. Round 4: Optional decorative picot round: *sc in next 2 stitches, ch 3, sl st into first ch* around each scallop.
Part 7 – Assembly
33. Block the cream lace base first and allow it to dry completely.
34. Place the five sage pumpkins down the center line of the runner. Leave small gaps between them so the cream lace remains visible.
35. Rotate each pumpkin slightly so the stems do not look mechanically aligned.
36. Sew each pumpkin securely to the lace base around the outer 2-3 rounds. Avoid flattening the raised ribbing.
37. Sew one brown stem at the top of each pumpkin.
38. Arrange 3-5 olive leaves around every stem, mixing directions.
39. Add one small cream flower near each stem cluster.
40. Place curly tendrils on alternating sides for movement.
41. Use small hidden stitches through the back loops of each applique so the front remains neat.
Suggested Layout
• Top pumpkin: 4 leaves, 1 cream flower, 1 tendril.
• Second pumpkin: 4 leaves, 1 cream flower, 1 tendril on opposite side.
• Center pumpkin: 5 leaves, 1 flower, 2 tendrils.
• Fourth pumpkin: mirror the second pumpkin.
• Bottom pumpkin: mirror the top pumpkin.
Blocking & Finishing
42. Weave in every yarn end securely.
43. Pin the runner to blocking mats, carefully shaping the scalloped lace edge.
44. Steam lightly or wet-block according to yarn type.
45. Do not press the pumpkin ribs flat.
46. Shape leaves while damp so their points and center veins remain defined.
47. Allow the piece to dry completely before removing pins.
How to Resize the Runner
For a shorter runner, use 3 or 4 pumpkins and 4-5 lace medallions. For a longer dining table, add one pumpkin plus one lace medallion for every extra 20-25 cm / 8-10 in of length. Keep the same spacing between motifs so the design stays balanced.
Color Variations
• Classic autumn: burnt orange pumpkins, cream lace, olive leaves, brown stems.
• Modern farmhouse: muted sage pumpkins, ivory lace, forest-green leaves.
• Coastal fall: dusty blue pumpkins, warm white lace, eucalyptus green leaves.
• Elegant neutral: oatmeal pumpkins, cream lace, taupe stems, soft sage leaves.
• Christmas transition: deep green pumpkins with cream lace and burgundy flower centers